Marking system with rotary print drums

ABSTRACT

A printing mechanism for applying a mark such as a character, geometric figure, etc., to an object such as a cardboard material ticket capable of receiving the mark, the printing mechanism including support means for supporting a plurality of rotatable means, each rotatable means comprising a plurality of marking means supported thereby, indexing means for positioning a selected one of the rotatable means in position to apply a mark to an object to be brought into proximity with said marking means, and control means for relatively moving said marking means and a plurality of objects into proximity to apply a mark thereto, the control means also rotating said rotatable member to periodically position another of the marking means into position to apply a mark to the object.

United States Patent 1191 Dean et a1. Mar. 19, 1974 [54] MARKING SYSTEMWITH ROTARY PRINT 3,205,305 9/19 5 Clark et a1. 101/110 x DRUMS3,237,556 3/1966 Huffman... 101/92 x 3,363.550 H1968 Kruger 101/92 [75]Inventors: Harold L; Dean, Wellesley; Vincent 337L 02 3 19 3 c i 1, 1093 C Della Penna, Jr., Lexington, both of 3,626,462 12/1971 Stucchi101/210 Mass. V

[73] Assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Company, prlrfmry m Framingham,Mass. Assistant ExammerEugene H. E'lCkhOit Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Donald Brown; Dike, [22] Filed: 1972 Bronstein, Roberts & Cushman[21] Appl. No.: 238,131

r 1 [57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 101/69, 101/93 C, 101/99, A printingmechanism for applying a mark such as a /103 character, geometricfigure, etc., to an object such as [51] Int. Cl B411 45/00 a cardboardmaterial ticket capable of receiving the Field Of Search Q, Q, mark, theprinting mechanism including support 10 9, 1 10 031 02, 3 means forsupporting a pluralityvof rotatable means,

329,338, 349, 353, 3 C, 05 each rotatable means comprising .a pluralityof marking means supported thereby, indexing means for posi- [56]References Cited tioning a selected one of the rotatable means in posi-UNITED STATES PATENTS tion to apply a mark to an object to be broughtinto 3.141.403 7/1964 Brown et a1. 101/106 x Proximity with Said markingmeans and F meal 3.504.622 4/1970 Morrison 101/95 x for relativelymoving Said marking means and a P 74s.421 12/1903 Robertson... 197/654 yO objects into Proximity to pp a a therem 1.] 15.646 1 H1914 Wronker101/92 thecontrol means also rotating said rotatable member 1.208.642 112/1916 Pitney 101/91 to periodically position another of the markingmeans i X into position to a mark to the object 2.343.721 3/1944 VanTuyl 101/101 1 2.825.279 3/1958 1 Gottscho 101/110 X 6 Claims, 8 DrawingFigures PATENIED Hi? 1 9 I974 SHEEI 1 BF 5 PAIENIEDHARIB m4 3797386SHEET '& BF 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed tothe printing art and in particular is directed to a new and improvedmecha nism for printinga mark such as characters (numbers, letters)symbols, geometric figures and other types of indicia on a material suchas a paper or cardboard adapted to receive the marks.

The present invention finds particular utility in a system for markingtickets with price and other information pertinent to merchandisingvending. A system of this type is disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,517,612and 3,626,462, and both are assigned to the assignee of thisapplication.

In these patents there is disclosed a ticket of the type (see FIGS. 1Aand 1B) which is suitable for use in the internal control of merchandisein retail vending establishments.

As disclosed in the aforementioned patents, the marking system includesa machine bed for supporting a ticket, the ticket being initiallyseparated from a roll of tickets and then moved along the machine bed sothat various operations can be carried out at different stations of themachine. At one of the stations, printing takes place using a pluralityof print wheels and at another of the stations the ticket carrying amagnetizable coating is coded using a magnetic recording device.

This patent also discloses a color mark unit (see FIGS. 4 and 11) whichincludes a plurality of containers for applying an identifying mark tothe ticket. The identifying color mark may be used to indicate storedepartment, size (e.g., in men's clothes, shorts, longs and regulars)and othertypes of coded information relating to the flow of merchandisethrough a store or other establishment.

As shown in the aforementioned patent, as the machine bed movesupwardly, ink is dispensed from a contain'er as the ticket depresses avalve of the container. In this manner a color mark is applied to aticket carried on the machine bed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 1 of said rotatable devices inposition to applya mark to a document or the like such as a ticket-In addition there isprovided means for rotating the selected one of rotatable devices toapply a mark applying material e.g., a fluid such as ink or the like tothe marking means and also position each of the marking means to apply amark to a document as the document is brought into contact therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.'1 is a front and partialsectional view of the marking system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the pawl for rotating the rotatable meanscarrying the marking means according to the invention taken along line4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the locking detent for bolding the rotatablemeans in position after it is rotated by the pawl of FIG. and takenalong line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 illustrates in a bottom view of one of the mark ing meansaccording to the invention;

FIG: 7 illustrates in a top view the mechanism for operating theindexable means according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control for indexing the indexable meansshown in FIGS. 1-6; and

FIG. 9 is a view of a ticket having a mark applied thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference should now be had toFIGS. 1-8 for a description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

At 20 there is shown a machine bed which is reciprocated (up and down)by a shaft 21, coupledto a cam follower'(not shown) which in turn isdriven by a cam (not shown) mounted on'a shaft 22 to drive toggles 23and 24 about an aligning pin 25 (only one of which is shown). The drivefor the machine bed 20 is conventional and is more particularlydescribed in .U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,036,520, 2 ,890,650, 3,095,807 and2,968,236 all of which are incorporated herein by reference hereto aswell as the aforementioned US. Pat. Nos. 3,626,462 and 3,517,612.

Positioned upon the top of the bed 20 and shown dotted is a documentsuch as a ticket 28 to which a mark is to be applied. The ticket is fedin a conventional manner using feed pawls (not shown) as disclosed inthe above mentioned patents.

The marking system of this invention is generally disclosed at 30 and issupported by the, main machine frame. The marking system comprises arotatable support means on indexable member 31 which is mounted on ashaft 32 and is rotated by a motor 33 through gears 34and 35. .f i g Theshaft 32 is suitably supported by bearings as shown. The rotatablesupport 31 in the preferred embodiment supports a plurality of rotatabledevices or support means'37 about the periphery thereof, ten of whichare shown in the preferred embodiment (see FIG. 1 v I Each of therotatable devices includes a plurality of marking means 38 about theperiphery thereof for applying or printing a mark such as a character,geometric figure in any one of aplurality of colors to the ticket 28(see FIG. 9).

Each of the rotatable devices 37 as shown more fully in FIGS. 2 and 6 issupportedon a shaft 39 for rotation therewith. Each of the plurality ofmark applying or marking means 38 comprises e.g., a pad 38a coupled to apad support member 38b which is itself coupled to the rotatable devices37 .by a bolt as shown in FIG. 2.

The pad may be constructed-of natural rubber, plasfigure or even includeraised characters or geometric figures or the like.

The pad may be glued to the member 38b or be coupled in a conventionalmanner thereto. Positioned adjacent to each of the marking means 38 andthe rotatable devices 37 to which they are attached are marking materialapplying means 40.

The marking material applying means 40 are each fixedly supported onshafts 41 and rotated by a gear 42 coupled to a gear 43 mounted on shaft39. Thus the marking material applying means 40 and the rotationaldevice 37 rotate in unison.

The marking material applying means may be constructed of a Porelon InkRoll such as sold by Johnson Porelon Products which supplies ink at thesurface thereof as the roll is squeezed. The Porelon Ink Roll carriesits own ink supply and is replaced when it is no longer capable oftransferring ink to the pads.

In addition, other types of mark material applying means i.e., absorbentpads may be used such as require adjustable length linkage 55fwhich isitself pivotly coupled to amember 56. The member 56 is in turn coupledto a shaft 57 for rotation therewith with the shaft being supported in abearing 58 supported by a frame member.

The shaft is in turn coupled to a member 59 in a manner to rotate it.The member 59 at 59a pivotly supports a pawl 60 which is rotateddownwardly by a spring 61 against a ratchet 62 fixedly coupled to theshaft 39 to rotate it (counter-clockwise) as the pawl 60 rocks back andforth to engage the next succeeding tooth of the ratchet (see FIG. 4 Thespring 61 engages a pin 59b fixedly coupled to the member 59 and alsowraps about a pin 60a fixedly coupled to the pawl.

Thus as the shaft 39 is rotated, the rotatable device 37 carrying themarking means 38 will be rotated as will the mark material applyingmeans as a result of the rotation of gears 42 and 43. In this manner thepads 38aare inked as they rotate against the roll 40 and are alsopositioned in place over the bed so that the bed 20 may be raised to"relatively move an inked pad 38a and ticket 28 together'to print a markthereon.

To retain the pad 38a in place between pawl movements, there is provideda gear 70 fixedly coupled to the shaft 39 which has a plurality ofdetent receiving means 71. I

At 72 there is shown a locking detent 72 which is urged against the gear70 by a spring 73. The detent 72 is adapted to ride into and out of thedetent receiving means 71 as the pawl rotates the ratchet 62, but willhold the ratchet in place as the pawl moves to the right of FIG. 4 toengage the next tooth of the ratchet so as to rotate it(counter-clockwise as shown).

Thus as the rocker arm rocks back and forth as shown by the arrow inFIG. 3, the shaft 39 will be rotated to sequentially ink the pad andplace a pad into position to apply a mark to the ticket as the ticket israised in a timed relationship with the movement of the bed through itscam also driven by the machines main shaft 22 (which also drives cam53).

Reference should now be had to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 which illustrate themeans for controlling the indexable member 31 to position one ofrotatable devices 37 in position to apply a mark to being fed over thebed 20 to successive tickets.

The indexable member is used so that a different selected shaped mark orcharacter may be applied to the ticket by positioning a differentrotatable device 37 in position over the bed 20. Ordinarily the pads 38asupported on each device 37 produce the same shaped mark on the ticketalthough this need not be the case and ordinarily the marks applied bythe pads 38a supported in the same device37 will be made in the samecolor. The indexing of the rotatable member 31 in the embodiment takesplace by rotation thereof in a clockwise direction. I

A motor shown at 33 is provided as previously described for rotatinggears as previously described. As the member 31 is rotated clockwise oneby one the ratchets 62 coupled to drive each of the plurality ofrotatable members 37 moves past the pawl 37 and passes thereunder whilemomentarily engaging the same and lifting it up to permit it to passthereover.

When the motor is stopped the rotatable member 37 selected is thenpositioned as shown in FIg. 4 so that the rotatable member 37 may now berotated as the cam 53 rotates to rock the arm 50 back and forth. Themember 31 after being positioned by the motor 33 is locked and centeredin place by the provision of a latching relay pivoting a rocker arm 81into position to enter cutouts 83 in a locking member disc 84. The disc84 is fixedly coupled'to the member 31 and rotates therewith. t

The shaft 32 also supports a timing or indexing disc which rotatestherewith and is, fixedly secured thereto (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 8).

The indexing disc 90 includes a plurality of slots 90a and one smallerwidth slot 90b. The slots 90a are related to the position of therotatable devices 37 and provide signals to permit the positioning of aselected one of such devices 37 over the machine bed 20.

As shown there are ten slots (90a and 90b) one for each of the rotatabledevices 37. At 93 in FIGS. 2 and 8 there is shown a light source and anassociated light sensor 94 i.e., a photo cell and amplifier (bothmounted in an enclosure with the disc 90) to detect signals generated asthe disc cuts across the light beam emitted by the light source. In thismanner signals are developed which are related to shaft position as wellas device 37 position. I

In order to briefly describe the operation of the indexing controlmeans, reference should now be had to FIG. 8 which shows in block formlogic for accomplishing the above.

The indexing and positioning of a selected one of the plurality ofrotatable devices or means 37 in a position to apply a mark to theticket is accomplished using a binary coded decimal input switch 95 forproviding an output'signal in a binary coded decimal format representinga selection of a device 37. A particular device 37 may be selecteddepending upon the color code which may be -required as a marking on aticket.

A suitable switch for this application may be purchased from DigitranInc. of Pasadena, Calif. as Series 300 Type 378. After the codedinformation is available at the output of switch 95, the on-off switchor control 96 may be closed to set a Flip-flop 97 to provide a signal toa conventional motor drive and control block 98 to cause the latchingrelay 80 to withdraw the arm member 81 (by rotating it clockwise asshown in FIGS. 7 and 8) out of one of the slots in the member 84 so thatthe indexable member 31 carrying the devices 37 can rotate after motor33 is turned on.

The setting of Flip-H00 97 also turns the motor 33 on thus rotatinggears 34, 35 and shaft 32 carrying membars 31 and 83. The closing ofswitch 96 also resets a Flip-flop 99 forming a part of a zero detector100. The

zero detector Flip flop 99 provides signals to reset a pulse countercoupled to the sensor 94 as well as a signal from the Flip-flop 99 to athree input NAND gate 101.

The zero detector 100 comprises a monostable Flipflop 102 responsive tonegative going signals from the sensor 94. The sensor 94 providing anegative going output waveform when a slot passes between it and thelight source 94. As used herein the term high represents a highpotential (logical 1) and the term low represents a lowpotential or zerovolts (logical 0). g

The negative going waveform from sensor94 triggers a monostableamplifier providing a high signaltfor a predet'erminedperiod of timewhen it returns to its original low state) to one of the inputs ofa NANDcircuit 103. The other input of the NAND circuit 103 is coupled directlyto the sensor 94. Thus, whenever the narrow width slot 90b passes bysensor 94 it is detected and a low output signal is provided at theoutput of NAND circuit 103. Detection of slot90b occurs be cause' theoutput from sensor 94 goes high '(narrow pulse width representingpassage of the slot past the sensor 94 as the disc continues to rotatepast the sensor while and before the monostable Flip-flop 102 is stillproviding a high signal (long pulse width signal since it has not yettimed out). The detection of slot 90b indicates a zero point of thebeginning of the count.

After the monostable Flip-flop 102 has timed out, it provides a lowinput to NAND circuit 103 and therefore the NAND output remains low.When the larger slots 90a move past the sensor the monostable F lip-flopis triggered as before except that the larger width slot causes thesensor 94 to provide a lowsignal (large pulse width) even after theFlip-flop output 102 goes low. Thus the NAND gate 103 only changes itsstate when both inputs are high and will only provide alow signal whenslot 90b is detected bythe sensor 94.

The detection of the zero point or slot causes a pulse counter 104 to bereset, the counter being positioned to count pulses from the sensor 94.

At this time, comparison is going on in a conventional comparator 105between the BCD input signal provided by switch 95 and the pulse countfrom counter 104. When coincidence is made indicating that the selectedrotatable device 37 is in position to be stopped over the bed 20,thecomparator providesa high signal to the NAND gate 101 which already hasa high signal applied thereto from the Flip-flop 99 after it has beenset by the detection of slot 90b.

The third input to NAND circuit 101 is derived from the sensor 94 whichprovides a low signal when a slot is passing in front of the sensor 94and a high signal when light is blocked from the sensor. The next timethe sensor 94 signal goes high while the comparator 105 and Flip-flop 99are'providing high signals the 6 NAND gate 101 output goes low to resetF lip-flop 97.

The change in output from Flip-flop then causes the motor 33 to stop toposition the member 31. This I change in signal also causes the member81 to swing ond rotatable means supporting a plurality of mark applyingmeans, means supported by said frame for indexing the first supportmeans to position a selected one of said second support means at a pointat which a mark is to be applied to the object to be marked, meanssupported by said first rotatable support means for applying markingmaterial to one of said mark applying means at a time, and meanssupported by the frame for automatically rotating one of said secondrotatable support means to cause one of said markapplying meanssupported thereby to be positioned for applying a mark to the object,and at the same time also cause a different one of said mark applyingmeans supported by said same second rotatable support means to engagethe i means for applying marking material in order to permit markingmaterial to be applied thereto, in which the object is supported on amachine bed supported by said frame and in which there is providedactuating means supported by said frame for relatively moving themachine bed and said mark applying means while the ob; ject is supportedon the machine bed under the mark applying means to cause a mark to beapplied to the object, in which said actuating means includes firstcouplingmeans for rotating said selected one of said plurality'of secondrotatable support means, in which said first coupling'means also rotatessaid marking material applying means adjacent said selected secondsupport means to cause it to apply marking material to said selectedsecond rotatable support meanssup'ported mark applying means, and inwhich said marking material applying means comprises a roll carryingsaid mark applying materials which is rotated with the rotation of saidscond rotatable meansto dispense mark applying material to said markapplying means; 1

2. A marking system according to claim 1 in which said first couplingmeans comprises gear means coupled to said by markapplying means andsaid marking material applying means. i

3. A marking system for applying a mark to an object, said systemcomprising frame means, a first rotatable support meanssupported by saidframe means for rotation,.a plurality of second rotatable supportmeanssupported about the periphery of said. first rotatable supportmeans for rotation, each of said second rotatable support meanssupporting a plurality of mark applying means about the peripherythereof, a plurality of rotatable marking material supply means carryingmarking material and supported by said first rotatable support means forrotation, one of each of said marking mate-' rial supply meanspositioned adjacent a different one of said second rotatable means tomake one at a time contact with each of the plurality of mark applyingmeans supported by each of said second rotatable means, means supportedby said frame means for supporting the object to which a mark is to beapplied, means supported by said frame means for rotating the firstrotatable support means to position a selected one of said secondsupport means at a print point at which a mark is to be applied to anobject by said mark applying means carried by each of said secondsupport means, first drive means supported by said frame means forrelatively moving said object support means and said first rotatablesupport means to produce a mark on an object supported by said objectsupport means, and second drive means coupled to intermittently rotatethe second rotatable support means which is positioned at the printpoint in order to position one of said mark applying means supportedthereby in position to apply a mark to the object and also cause mark'applying material to be transferred from said marking material supplymeans to another of said mark applying means supported by the samesecond rotatable support means.

4. A marking system according to claim 3 in which first coupling meansis provided which is coupled to said second drive means and is alsocoupled to the marking material supply means positioned adjacent thesecond rotatable support means which is positioned at the print point tosimultaneously rotate said marking material supply means and said secondrotatable support means located at the print point.

5. A marking system according to claim 4 in which said first couplingmeans comprises first gear means supported by said second rotatablesupport means and second gear means supported by said marking materialsupply means.

6. A marking system according to claim 3 each of said second rotatablesupport means is supported about said first rotatable support means sothat in rotation of said first rotatable support means the secondsupport means are coupled and uncoupled to said second drive means.

1. A marking system for applying a mark to an object or the like, saidsystem comprising a frame, first rotatable support means supported bysaid frame, a plurality of second rotatable support means, said firstrotatable support means supporting about its periphery each of saidsecond rotatable support means each of said second rotatable meanssupporting a plurality of mark applying means, means supported by saidframe for indexing the first support means to position a selected one ofsaid second support means at a point at which a mark is to be applied tothe object to be marked, means supported by said first rotatable supportmeans for applying marking material to one of said mark applying meansat a time, and means supported by the frame for automatically rotatingone of said second rotatable support means to cause one of said markapplying means supported thereby to be positioned for applying a mark tothe object, and at the same time also cause a different one of said markapplying means supported by said same second rotatable support means toengage the means for applying marking material in order to permitmarking material to be applied thereto, in which the object is supportedon a machine bed supported by said frame and in which there is providedactuating means supported by said frame for relatively moving themachine bed and said mark applying means while the object is supportedon the machine bed under the mark applying means to cause a mark to beapplied to the object, in which said actuating means includes firstcoupling means for rotating said selected one of said plurality ofsecond rotatable support means, in which said first coupling means alsorotates said marking material applying means adjacent said selectedsecond support means to cause it to apply marking material to saidselected second rotatable support means supported mark applying means,and in which said marking material applying means comprises a rollcarrying said mark applying materials which is rotated with the rotationof said scond rotatable means to dispense mark applying material to saidmark applying means.
 2. A marking system according to claim 1 in whichsaid first coupling means comprises gear means coupled to said by markapplying means and said marking material applying means.
 3. A markingsystem for applying a mark to an object, said system comprising framemeans, a first rotatable support means supported by said frame means forrotation, a plurality of second rotatable support means supported aboutthe periphery of said first rotatable support means for rotation, eachof said second rotatable support means supporting a plurality of markapplying means about the periphery thereof, a plurality of rotatablemarking material supply means carrying marking material and supported bysaid first rotatable support means for rotation, one of each of saidmarking material supply means positioned adjacent a different one ofsaid second rotatable means to make one at a time contact with each ofthe plurality of mark applying means supported by each of said secondrotatable means, means supported by said frame means for supporting theobject to which a mark is to be applied, means supported by said framemeans for rotating the first rotatable support means to position aselected one of said second support means at a print point at which amark is to be applied to an object by said mark applying means carriedby each of said second support means, first drive means supported bysaid frame means for relatively moving said object support means andsaid first rotatable support means to produce a mark on an objectsupported by said object support means, and second drive means coupledto intermittently rotate the second rotatable support means which ispositioned at the print point in order to position one of said markapplying means supported thereby in position to apply a mark to theobject and also cause mark applying material to be transferred from saidmarking material supply means to another of said mark applying meanssupported by the same second rotatable support means.
 4. A markingsystem according to claim 3 in which first coupling means is providedwhich is coupled to said second drive means and is also coupled to themarking material supply means positioned adjacent the second rotatablesupport means which is positioned at the print point to simultaneouslyrotate said marking material supply means and said second rotatablesupport means located at the print point.
 5. A marking system accordingto claim 4 in which said first coupling means comprises first gear meanssupported by said second rotatable support means and second gear meanssupported by said marking material supply means.
 6. A marking systemaccording to claim 3 each of said second rotatable support means issupported about said first rotatable support means so that in rotationof said first rotatable support means the second support means arecoupled and uncoupled to said second drive means.